Why You Always Seem To Want What You Can't Have, By Zodiac Sign
Patience tested.
pexels Why is it that people always seem to want what they can't have? Some zodiac signs are born with more patience than others and learn to wait until the time is right. But what if your horoscope sign is one determined to get what you want, and not having it only makes you want it more?
I’m sure you’ve felt the frustration that comes with wanting something you can’t have. Like when you’re on a diet or trying to eat healthier, and you know you’re not supposed to have fast food. Or when you’re in a relationship that is going nowhere fast, but you know that flirting with that cute guy at work is only going to cause more problems and drama between you and your current bae.
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Or even wanting something totally unattainable, like wanting to go back in time and stop something embarrassing from happening or having the ability to read minds. Obviously, these things would be cool to have, but it’s just not going to happen.
Yet, no matter how many times we’re told that we can’t have something (or someone) we want, it only makes us want it more. Why? Because the image you’ve created in your mind of this better thing never compares to real life. It’s like the saying “the grass is greener on the other side” – sure, it always feels like it is, but when you get over to the other side, you realize it’s exactly the same grass as your side.
Sometimes, if we are lucky to get the one thing we’ve wanted for long but couldn’t have, we realize that it’s not the same as what we had before, but worse. And isn’t that a sucker punch to the gut. For example, I was told by my doctor to start eating healthier food because the health plan we were working on for me required a little detox from the not-so healthy lifestyle I was working towards.
I was able to eat healthy like she wanted me to for the recommended time period, but during that time, all I wanted to do was drink honey mustard sauce with a straw… so much so that I even mentioned it to my boss at a professional event because I was craving fast food so bad.
Embarrassing? A little. Gross to think about? Absolutely. But when I finished my detox, I decided to reward myself with fast food for just one meal because I felt like I deserved it… Plus, it was the one thing I wanted that I couldn’t have – and now I could have it! But as soon as I finished eating that fast food, I felt like absolute junk.
Yes, I wanted it, but it was so not worth it. I couldn’t have made something that was a lot healthier for dinner that also tasted a lot better, but I just had to give into my wants. Not everything we want and can’t have is exactly like wanting to eat fast food when we’re trying to get healthier, but you get my point.
The thing I wanted tasted like gold-dipped manna from heaven in my head, but when I finally got it, real life couldn’t even begin to compare to what I was dreaming about for so long. Rather than forcing yourself to never get over the things you can’t have, changing your perspective to get what you want in a more positive, better-for-you way can actually be a better option for you.
That way, you’re actually enjoying this compromise you’ve made for yourself, instead of feeling like you’re punishing yourself. We could all stand to be a little bit more positive, anyway, don’t you think?
Per astrology, here’s what you want that you can’t have, based on your zodiac sign.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The one thing you want the most, Aries, is for people to always say what they mean. Unfortunately, you can wish for this to happen ten times over, and people will still choose to lie to you over being honest. It sucks, but it happens.
The only thing you can do – rather than try to change how people act around you – is to surround yourself with people who you can trust to be honest with you, instead of wonder if the people in your life really who they say they are.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
The thing you want but can't have is the ability to predict the future. You sometimes wish that you knew without a shadow of a doubt that you are on the right track in life. Are you doing the right things? Are you who you want to be? You can guess, but you're not really sure.
The future is scary, and when you can't predict what will happen, it can make you nervous. You don't like going into something new without knowing all the ins and outs first, but you know as well as everyone else that life isn't like that. It's daunting, but embrace the unknown!
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
The thing you want the most is someone who can read your mind, Gemini. You can be restless and unpredictable at times, and it's not always easy for you to find someone who can keep up with your ever-changing moods and plans.
You wish you had someone in your life who knew you better than yourself, but you're not entirely sure that's a possibility. What you can do is surround yourself with like-minded people who get who you are, but as for the mind-reading, that's not likely to happen.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
What you want, Cancer, is to not always take things so personally. When it comes to the people you care about, your friends and family, you can't help but get involved in their lives and issues. Even when you have your own things to worry about, you find yourself putting them first.
It's not that you can't not take things personally, it's just that you tend to get emotionally involved in people's lives. You want them to know that you're always there for them, even when it means listening to everyone's problems and not taking care of your own.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
The one thing you wish you could have is for people to know that your success doesn't mean other people can't succeed, too. When people see you making strides for your future, it can intimidate them into thinking that you're just trying to compete for title of best of the best.
In reality, you're just worried about your own life. You would gladly root for other people's success or give them some advice if they didn't always think you were just interested in climbing over people to succeed. Unfortunately, you can't (and shouldn't) convince people you're not a threat. At that point, it's not about you at all.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
The one thing you want the most is to always be right, Virgo. Listen, I get it. We all want to know that we're doing everything right and that everyone appreciates that we know what we're doing, but we can't always be right ALL the time.
Instead, work on making everything feel right for you, not for everyone else. If you feel like you're on the right track in life, that you're being your most authentic self, and that you're happy, then that's all the "right" you need in life.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
The thing you want most that you can't have, Libra, is love at first sight. I know that it's hard to wrap your mind around, but love at first sight isn't all it's cracked up to be. To really find love, you need to take the time to get to know someone inside and out.
What's more attainable is wanting a deep connection with someone that you can work on cultivating for years. Love at first sight is usually only attraction or lust at first sight – and doesn't often last as long as we think. Be realistic, but optimistic with what you want.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
The one thing you want the most is to manipulate the world to your liking, Scorpio. If you had a magic wand that you could wave to make people agree with you, to make life easy and fun all the time, and to make all of your problems disappear, you would.
Alas, there are no magic wands on Amazon, so we're forced to do things ourselves. Just remember that the thing you want – manipulation – doesn't always sound palatable to everyone else. You should only worry about bettering yourself, not controlling everyone else.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The thing you want but can't have is no responsibilities, Sagittarius. Life is FULL of responsibility, as much as I hate to burst your bubble, but it's up to you make those responsibilities feel like they're helping you grow, instead of bringing you down.
You obviously don't like being told what to do, but that doesn't mean you get to throw away all your responsibility and live a life only doing what you want. You know that saying, "do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life"? Use the same motto when it comes to responsibility: let it lift you up and you'll always grow.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
The thing you want the most (but can't have) is more hours in the day. Don't we all, Capricorn! It never does feel like everything you need to do can get done in one day, especially when you also have to work and sleep, does it?
Rather than wish for more hours in a day, it's a better idea to start managing your time better. Maybe there's something you can automate or delegate to someone else to help take some things off your plate. Hey, it's worth a try!
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
As someone who is always looking for ways to be of service, it's no surprise that the thing you want the most is to help everyone – or at least, as many people as possible. Your humanitarian personality makes you want to do whatever you can (and then some) for those in need.
While this is an admirable endeavor, you can't actually help everyone – it's impossible – and nor should you feel indebted to everyone. It's not selfish to put yourself first, but don't forget about helping people, either. Find that balance, and you'll feel like your life really does have meaning.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
The thing you want the most, Pisces, is a way to take away people's suffering. Life isn't always fair, and it crushes you to see the people you love and care about having a hard time. You always try to take on people's problems and solve what you can, but that's not always healthy.
What you really need is to create boundaries. When people feel like they can unload all of their issues onto you, they'll start taking advantage of your kindness, Yes, you can be there for others, but don't expect to be their savior. Sometimes, just being a friend is all they need.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.